Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 11:24:06 -0300
To: mo-sciweekly@polar.org, mpc@lmg.polar.org, verretro@lmg.polar.org,
alsuther@nsf.gov, kerb@nsf.gov, ppenhale@nsf.gov
cc: rossro@lmg.polar.org, kozlowwe@lmg.polar.org,
Menzies Dave ,
Carrillo Christopher ,
Chapman Erik , iresonki@lmg.polar.org
From: "Ross, Robin"
Subject: LMG01-01 4 -13 Jan 2001 Palmer LTER cruise
LMG01-01 2001 January LTER cruise: 4 -13 January synopsis
The Palmer LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) project is focused on
the marine pelagic ecosystem west of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Sampling and experiments are conducted on multiple scales, from the
small spatial scale program that continues throughout the spring and
summer, to the mesoscale sampling in January based on a 400 km
alongshore by 200 km on/offshore grid between Anvers and Adelaide
Islands, to process cruises scheduled to investigate specific
questions. The program is multi-disciplinary, with teams focused on
hydrography and sea ice/ocean modeling (BP-021, PI = D. Martinson,
Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory); optics and remote sensing for sea
ice and ocean color (BP-032, PI = R.C. Smith, University of
California at Santa Barbara); microbial ecology and carbon flux
(BP-046, PIs = D. Karl, University of Hawaii and H. Ducklow, Virginia
Institute of Marine Science); phytoplankton community distribution
and productivity (BP-016, PI = M. Vernet, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography); zooplankton distribution and abundance, and Antarctic
krill physiology (BP-028, PIs = R. Ross and L. Quetin, UCSB); and
apex predators, Adelie penguin demography and reproduction (BP-013,
PI = W. Fraser, Montana State University).
The 2001 January LTER cruise on the LM Gould was originally scheduled
to leave Punta Arenas the morning of December 30. Unfortunately,
within an hour of departure there were problems with the engine
eventually diagnosed as a faulty turbo. Our departure was delayed
5.5 days until the new part could be flown down and installed. We
left Punta Arenas 4 January 2100 LT. After we left Argentine waters,
we collected a suite of data on the southbound trip to Palmer
Station. The data included an xbt/xctd transect, and surface
collections of water samples for analyses of chlorophyll, dissolved
gasses, and the microbial population.
At Palmer we were able to complete the offload/onload for the cruise
in 26 h, and departed at 2000 January 9. The willingness of Palmer
Station personnel to help us with this fast and unprecedented
turnaround is greatly appreciated. The first 3.5 days of science
operations have gone very smoothly, aided by superb support from an
experienced scientific group, RPSC personnel, the ECO captain and
crew, and calm weather. We occupied the seasonal stations (B and E)
and acoustic transects (A-E and F-J) that are sampled twice a week
from October to March. We have retrieved the Palmer sediment trap
located about 4 km from Palmer Station, and retrieved and redeployed
the Hugo sediment trap, about 100 km southwest of Palmer Station.
Sampling of the 9 stations on the 600 line that runs perpendicular to
the continent and 24 km south of Palmer Station is now complete.
Stations are 20 km apart, and at each station we deployed multiple
instruments: a PRR (profiling reflectance radiometer) cast for both
uv and visible light, a CTD cast for hydrographic data and to collect
water samples, a FRRF (fast repetition rate fluorometer) on casts
less than 500 m, and two acoustic (120 kHz) transects with
simultaneous net tows (2-m and 1-m Metro nets) to sample the
zooplankton community. At the station of the day closest to solar
noon, two casts were done with the optics instrument package (ac-9
and Hydroscat-6) to measure inherent optical properties in the water
column. Seabird censuses were conducted between cardinal stations,
and on station. XBTs were dropped between stations.
Regards,
Robin Ross (028, Chief Scientist) and field team leaders Dave Menzies
(021), Chris Carrillo (046), Wendy Koslowski (016), Kirk Ireson
(032), and Erik Chapman (013)